Odds and Ends about Writing

This is not Dialogue

Dialogue is basically when two or more characters talk. Therefore, things that cannot be spoken, like 

"!!!!"

or

"????"

Isn't dialogue and shouldn't be used. I understand the feelings behind "!!!" "???" and the like, and I do use them in text messages, but as soon as I see them in dialogue, my brain is going to pull me out of the story as I try to figure how on earth one would vocalise an exclamation mark. 

So if you feel tempted to use these, perhaps try a one-word comment, or showing the reader the character's reaction, or whatever else reflects the mood (perhaps your conversation is taking place during a thunderstorm and there's thunder after the jaw-dropping revelation). The point is: there are many other ways that you can use to tell the reader about what your character is feeling. 

P.s. All caps in dialogue looks weird too. If the character is shouting, the context will naturally let me know that the character is shouting. Or perhaps a nicely-placed dialogue tag. Please don't use caps (not to say you can't use them AT ALL in your stories - I know I do - but they must be used with discretion).